Contentment with modest wealth

Chapter 221 Relying on One's Power
Yan Shu paused slightly, then laughed loudly, "The hearts of parents are all the same! Don't worry, within a month, I will definitely assemble a team that is comparable to the clan's guard to protect Jia'er."

“I naturally have no worries about your handling of things.” Lu Jie slightly raised his lips, but then said, “However, it’s easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. No matter how strong the defense is, it cannot completely eliminate threats. There will always be times when she is alone.”

"Simply put, there are just too many opportunities and ways to deal with a little girl right under your nose."

Yan Shu's expression darkened upon hearing this: "Then, in your opinion, what should be done?"

"The best protection is to give her something to rely on."

Yan Shu raised his eyebrows: "With your position as Minister of Rites, aren't you confident enough?"

Yang Bonong had personally led his men to bring out the appetizers. After the dishes were set out and they withdrew, Lu Jie opened the wine jar and poured a cup of wine for each of them. Then he said, "Before the Laba Festival, I heard that countless officials, both high and low, from inside and outside the capital, went to the Shen family to send invitations, and many high-ranking officials in the court even held banquets to invite Grand Commandant Shen."

"But of all the people, he only accepted the invitation from the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue."

Do you know why?

Yan Shu nodded: "Shen Bo is obsessed with military achievements. Hu Yucheng is currently leading troops in the southeast. Although Hu Yucheng is one of our men, it was Shen Bo who approved the appointment of him as commander."

"Moreover, Shen Bo is the Minister of War, and he is responsible for the rear command."

"We must win this battle in the southeast, but the prerequisite for stabilizing morale is a stable rear and sufficient military pay."

"Therefore, Shen Bo may disregard everyone's feelings, but he will have to give face to the high-ranking officials in charge of the Ministry of Revenue no matter what."

Lu Jie tilted his head back and drank the wine in his hand, propping his elbow on his hand as he looked across at the other side: "Shen Bo even accepted the invitation from the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. In other words, the only things that can hold Shen Bo back, besides the Emperor, are the current war."

"Currently, Chen Huan is concurrently serving as the Minister of Revenue."

“This Grand Secretary Chen is getting old, and the Ministry of Revenue is busy with many affairs and has heavy responsibilities. I think it would be more appropriate for him to serve as the Minister of Rites.”

At this point, Lu Jie refilled the other person's wine.

Yan Shu stared at the wine that had been pushed in front of him, and after a long while, he looked at the wine opposite him...

……

Madam Yan had just glanced at the menu for the family banquet on the eve of the Lunar New Year, delivered by the steward, when Yan Shu returned. He didn't even wait for the servants to lift the curtain; he lifted it himself and walked in.

Seeing his somber expression, Madam Yan went over and asked, "What was the result?"

Yan Shu sat down, first warming his hands above the incense burner before saying, "You guessed right, the rumors outside seem to have indeed had some impact on him."

"When I arrived, he didn't even come out to greet me. He left me hanging for a while. Then, he accused me of being greedy because of the two jars of wine I brought with me."

Yan Shu chuckled softly, "So he's saying that since he's already given our Yan family one daughter, we shouldn't be eyeing his other daughter anymore."

Madam Yan sat down across the kang table: "This has never happened before in all these years."

“Who can argue with that?” Yan Shu said slowly. “But this time, he can’t be blamed. It was the Wei mother and daughter who caused this mess, and he was innocently implicated.”

Madam Yan frowned: "Then does this matter have to be left undone?"

"Not really. He just started negotiating terms with me."

"What conditions?"

"He wants to take over the Ministry of Revenue. He wants to use the Ministry of Revenue's power in the war in the southeast to support Jia'er."

Madam Yan was stunned. "Isn't Grand Secretary Chen in charge of the Ministry of Revenue now? If he goes to the Ministry of Revenue, what about Chen Huan?" "Lan Chu's idea is to send him to the Ministry of Rites." Yan Shu put his hands on the incense burner again: "I've thought about it, and this is appropriate."

"After the case of Zhou Sheng in Tanzhou Prefecture, Chen Huan also proposed to establish a separate supervisory team to check the river transport taxes over the years."

"Although this person doesn't openly oppose us, he will still try to take advantage of us if given the chance. We have too much leverage over the Ministry of Revenue."

"His position as Minister of Revenue was indeed not very safe."

"Judging from the current situation, the Ministry of Rites is certainly not as important as the Ministry of Revenue. Lu Lanchu's goal is to enter the cabinet, so his choice must also have his own selfish motives."

"But for us, it's better to let Chen Huan take charge of the Ministry of Revenue than to let him do so."

Madam Yan said, "So it's a win-win situation?"

Yan Shu gazed at the flickering fire in the stove: "Although he outmaneuvered me, he's still so angry, we have to give him something in return. Otherwise, how will he ever get rid of this resentment?"

Madam Yan took a deep breath: "When we were cleaning up the mess that night, he was completely obedient to us. It seems that he agreed to continue the marriage without saying a word, and also avoided stirring up trouble by not divorcing Jiang. All this humility was probably for this move today."

“He is a genius of unparalleled talent,” Yan Shu withdrew his hand and picked up the teacup beside him. “If he didn’t even have this much shrewdness, how could he be worthy of our attention?”

Madam Yan nodded in agreement: "If he had no ambition, it would indeed be impossible to control him."

Yan Shu served tea and stood up: "These past few days have caused quite a stir in the city. The Emperor in the palace has probably heard about it and will surely summon Father. There's no time to lose, I'll go to the main room now."

……

It snowed again on the day before the Lunar New Year.

Shen Bo sat by the fire reading for a while, then glanced at the swirling snowflakes outside the window and asked Shen Zhui, who was scratching his head and writing an article across from him, "It's so cold, your older brother didn't go out, did he?"

"I don't know!" Shen Zhui looked up. "I haven't seen him for days."

Since the last big scene, Shen Zhui has rarely shown his face in front of Shen Qingzhou, let alone gone to Bibo Pavilion where he keeps several large wolfhounds.

It wasn't that he resented that hateful weirdo, but rather that he realized he didn't really want to go back to the Northwest. He had no relatives there, so what would he do there?

Although the capital city is unpleasant, the two people related to him by blood are here, so his home is here.

Since he didn't want to leave, he had no choice but to avoid him to prevent angering that person again and being inexplicably yelled at and kicked out.

Shen Bo pondered for a moment, then lowered his head to read the book again.

Shen asked him, "Has Father also not seen his eldest brother for a long time?"

Shen Bo remained silent.

Shen Zhui bit her lower lip and said, "If you want to see him, why don't you go to Bibo Pavilion?"

"Go ahead and write your characters." Shen Bo frowned. "You've practiced for so long, why hasn't your handwriting improved?"

His grandfather was a learned and talented scholar, yet he, as a member of the Yang family, seems to lack any academic talent. I wonder if this has anything to do with his mother, who came from a military family?
Shen Bo was a little worried.

"Reporting to the Grand Commandant, the eldest son has arrived."

Just then, a report came from outside the door.

Shen Bo turned his head, but before he could see Shen Qingzhou come in, he heard a thud from the other side. Shen Zhui, who had been sitting cross-legged, suddenly fell to the ground.